Posts tagged History
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It’s time to stop mandating lawns
Grassy lawns originally became popular for members of the pre-industrial aristocracy to show they could afford to waste land rather than farm it. Today, lawns are mandated by zoning codes that outlaw other uses, even front yard gardens. Keep reading…
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National links: Oakland ramps up universal basic mobility program
Oakland, California, expands its universal basic mobility program. How cities can innovate to keep cool during the summer. Revisiting early light rail successes in the US and Canada Keep reading…
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How to take transit to see vintage trains around greater Washington
The Washington region’s railroad history is on display around the region. Here’s how you can easily, and not-so-easily, visit several fascinating museums that should interest railfans of all ages. Keep reading…
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The Circulator is dead. Long live the Circulator!
At a time when bus service wasn’t thriving in the District, the Circulator was established with funds that had to be used by DC explicitly on bus. Key goals were to connect the National Mall to the soon-to-be-developed Southwest Waterfront, and to make bus appealing to a wider range of riders than before. 20 years later, its founders are ready to bid it a fond farewell (mostly). Read their reflections on the system’s history and aims. Keep reading…
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New maps show how fragmented our regional politics was, even at the dawn of colonialism
Political maps of North America before the colonial period left a lot to be desired. A blogger decided to make better ones, including of the Chesapeake Bay area. Keep reading…
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National links: Construction begins on LA to Las Vegas high-speed rail line
Construction begins for Brightline West. Older Americans are increasingly unable to find smaller housing to fit their needs as they age. The mayor of Nashville unveils a multimodal transportation improvement plan. Keep reading…
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Slash Run: How a DC stream became a sewer, and then a secret
Around 70 percent of DC’s streams are gone today, but we can reconstruct their paths. This piece looks at two of those lost streams, Slash Run and Brown’s Run, which once flowed from Adams Morgan and through Dupont Circle. Keep reading…
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Time zone: How documents from the 1930s shed light on DC’s land use today
The National Capital Planning Commission began its 100-year celebrations with a review of some of the many documents in its new digital library. GGWash’s DC Policy Director, Alex Baca, presented. Keep reading…
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Opened 40 years ago this week, Federal City Shelter remains essential
This week marks 40 years of social service and resilience at CCNV’s Federal City Shelter. Originally seen as a short-term solution, it remains a critical refuge today. Read about its history and the state of homelessness in DC. Keep reading…
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GGWash Picks of 2023: Where is downtown DC? It’s up for debate
DC’s zoning map provides one definition for Downtown, business improvement districts and the Census Bureau give others — and none of them are perfect. Keep reading…